Consecration Date
19th May 1838
Meeting Dates
- 2nd Thursday in January (Installation)
- 2nd Thursday in March
- 2nd Thursday in May
- 2nd Thursday in September
- 2nd Thursday in November
Meeting Time
17:30 (5:30pm)
The Lodge today
Cecil Lodge is a vibrant and friendly group with a wide range of occupations and interests. Like many lodges it does have its own method of working. These have been collected and formed into a unified book which is handed to everyone who joins. We have 5 meetings a year which are held in Letchworth on a Thursday evenings in January, March, May, September and November. The Cecil Lodge summons for the next meeting is circulated to the Secretaries of other lodges who met at The Cloisters with an invitation for their members to visit. The lodge continues to summarise its meetings from 150 years ago and this is often accompanied by historic information about events that occurred around that time. This helps to inform members of our past traditions, the local names and characters who can often be identified in old business or street names.
Our history
Cecil Lodge is one of the oldest lodges in Hertfordshire it was consecrated in 1838 and in 2038 it will celebrate its 200 year history. Originally it met at The Sun Hotel, Hitchin but in 1952 it moved to it current home at The Cloisters, Letchworth. It is the oldest lodge that meets there and can trace its association to 35 other lodges. Members of the lodge are currently compiling a history of the lodge which contains photographs and accounts of the various milestones.
In the community
The lodge supports local community charities such as the Garden City Hospice, Jackie’s Drop-in café, Stevenage and North Herts Haven (shelter and support for single homeless people), a school for disadvantaged children, Talking Newspapers for visually impaired people and Stevenage Sea Cadets. The lodge arranged for two days of free CPR training to be provided to masons, their family members and the local community. The lodge runs an annual charity race night which supports a different charitable organisation each year. Many of the members individually support local charities and their events. The Lodge also supports The Masonic Fishing Charity, aimed at children with special needs with regular donations and with members attending events.
Testimonials
Marcus Killick who has been a Mason for 13 years and joined Cecil Lodge in 2020 said, "I found myself without a Lodge when my old lodge surrendered their warrant. I reached out in Hertfordshire, Cecil Lodge welcomed me by offering support and the opportunity to continue my masonic journey. I've never looked back and now enjoy my masonry more than ever.”
Tim Mitchell who joined the lodge in 1988 said, “I joined the Lodge many years ago as I couldn't attend my mother lodge due to time constraints. It has always been a friendly and inviting lodge and I later became the master of the lodge. In recent years the lodge has had to cope with a lot of changes and the members have responded magnificently, even if they don't necessarily agree. There is a real feel of togetherness in the lodge – all working towards a common purpose.”
Other info
The lodge holds exciting social events throughout the year and these include Sunday lunches, curry nights and visits to local pubs. These are open to all families and friends. The lodge has also developed its own website www.cecillodge449.org.uk which has a public facing page. This has been responsible for individuals enquiring about joining the lodge.
When a new member joins the lodge and is initiated, they are allocated an experienced mason as a 'buddy'. This person's role is to sit with them both at meetings and at the festive board to explain various things to them as they occur. When they have to leave the lodge the buddy will accompany them so they are not left on their own. They will also help them to prepare their answers to the questions and as they progress through the offices of the lodge their buddy will work with them to learn the words and the floor ritual. This latter part is supervised by the Lodge Mentor.
Online Presence
Website: https://www.cecillodge449.org.uk
Contact details
Barry Townsend – Lodge Secretary
btownsend@hotmail.co.uk